Now in her fourth year with the
Cambrian Golden Shield Ladies Fastball team, 23 year-old first baseman
Laurel Myers is looking to try something new this year. And she believes
that 2005 may well be the year in which Cambrian makes a return trip to
the OCAA championships.

A native of Drumbo
(Ontario), Myers says she’s played fastball now for nearly 19 years,
dating back to her days of T-ball. “I’ve played for most of my life…my
dad and brother both played as well” said Myers, adding that she’s
generally played first base in the family tradition. “With my dad and
brother playing first, I always had a really good trapper broken in” she
laughs.

An all-around athlete in
high-school who competed in volleyball, basketball and soccer, Myers is
completing her second year of the Journalism degree to go along with a
degree in “Sustainable Outdoor Recreation” earned earlier in her stay at
Cambrian College. And while she’s been through her share of losses at
the Sudbury college, she sees reason for optimism this year.

“The coaching is a
dramatic difference” notes Myers of the addition of long-time local
fastball player Mickey Chartrand at the helm of the team. “He makes us
want to play harder…and we are learning so much.” Myers immediately
noticed the additional work the team has done on some of the game’s
finer points, including substantial time spent on bunting practice.

In addition to her
on-field production at the plate, Myers is clearly one of the leaders of
this squad, providing little hesitation for Chartrand to name the
outgoing veteran as team captain. “I see my role as captain as trying to
help keep the girls motivated, especially when we’re at bat and the
coaches are out on the field” explains Myers.

Sporting a 3-4 record as
the season heads into the final two weeks of play, Cambrian College
holds the fourth and final playoff position. And you can rest assured
that Laurel Myers does everything she can to ensure they remain exactly
there.

Laurel Myers,
Women's Fastball

“I see my role as
captain as trying to help keep the girls motivated, especially when
we’re at bat and the coaches are out on the field”